Grain-shocking attachment for harvesters



June 5, 1923. 1,457,627 D. W. GlLE GRAIN SHOCKING ATTACHMENT FOR HARVESTERS Filed Feb}, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, I923. 1,457,627

D. w. GILE GRAIN SHOCKING ATTACHMENT FOR HARVESTERS filed Fab. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DAN/EL W. G/LE Patented June 5, 1923.

DANIEL W. GILE, OF MADISON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

GRAIN-SHOCKING- A'I'TACHMENT FOR HARVES'IERS.

Application filed February 3, 1921. Serial No. 442,337.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DANIEL W.- GILE, a citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Madison, Lake County, South- Dakota, have invented a new and useful Grain-Shocking Attachment for Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved grain-shocking attachment for harvesting machines.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for receiving and.

collocating bundles of grain from the harvester.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for'turning bundles end for end, as they are redelivered from the harvester, in order to place said bundles in proper position for depositing in a shock.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for releasing and oscillating the bundle carrying device to deposit the shock.

A; further object of this invention is to provide improved means for compacting a collocation of bundles before deposit to form a compact and cohesive aggregation for deposit in the form of a shock.

A further object of this invention is toprovide means to temporarily stop the de-- ivery of bundles to the device during the operation of depositing a shock.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of my improved device. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a detail vertical section of a gear box and gears for operating the bundlecollecting device, substantially on the plane of the line 33 in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detail elevation, on an enlarged scale of a stop and releasing mechanism for the bundle-collecting device.

In the construction of the machine as shown the numeral 10 designates a U-shaped frame mounted in hor z nta PQSitiOn and open at its rear side. An axle shaft 11 is journaled for rotation in rear end portions of the side members of the frame 10, and

projects at each end therebeyond, and a supporting wheel 12 is mounted on and fixed to the projecting outer end of said axle shaft,

and'supports the outer end of said frame and devices carried thereby. A connecting bar 13' is fixed rigidly as by a bolt 14 to the transverse or' forward member of the frame 10,

' extends downwardly therefrom, is then bent or curved laterally, then rearwardly, then laterally again, and is rigidly connectedat' its opposite end to the rear frame bar (not shown) of a harvesting machine, ofany desired construction, with which my improved attachment is to be used. A draft bar 15 has one end connected to the frame 10, as by the bolt 14, and extends obliquely forwardly and laterally and has its opposite end connected to the forward part of the harvester frame. By means of the bars 13,15 the device is secured to the harvester, and the inner side thereof is supported.

A gear box 16 is pivoted on the axle shaft 11 within the frame 10, the said shaft passing through the lower central portion of said box. Two countershafts, 17, 1 8 are mounted longitudinally in spaced parallel relations and are journaled in the upper portion of the gear box 16, and project beyond said box at both ends. A bundle-collecting device is formed of two mating concave-' convex members 19, 20 arranged longitudinally above the gear box 16 and are formed at their lower margins with inwardly projecting lugs 21 fixed to end portions of the countershafts 17 18, respectively. The curvature of the members 19,20 preferably is greater at their rear than at their forward ends, so that said members, when in C011, tracted or approximated position, form" a frusto-conical receptacle. Themembers 19,

20 are adapted to bespread apart so as to leave an open space between their upper margins, as shown, and are normally held in ably is formed of relatively narrow leaves hinged together at their margins. The cover 23 may be held in place by means of lugs or eyes 24. formed on. its. lower surface and pivoted on the countershafts 17, 18. The bundle receptacle is arranged with the greater portion of its length to the rear of the axle shaft 11, so that it tends to overbalance to the rear, and is norm-ally held yieldingly in approximately horizontal position by means of a retractile coil spring 25 fixed at one end to the forward portion'of the gear box 16 and at its opposite end to the forward or transverse member of the frame 10;

A latching rod 26 also is provided for the gear box 16, and said rod is mounted for reciprocation in the downwardly extending arms of a U-shaped bracket 27 fixed to and extending rearwardly from the forward member of the frame 10. The latching rod 26 (see Figure 4) projects at its rear end through the bracket 27 and is adapted to enter a hole 28 in the forward side of the gear box 16, to prevent oscillation of said gear box, together with the bundle receptacle, on the axle shaft 11'. An expansive coil spring 29 is coiled around the latching rod 26 and impinges at one end the bracket 2? and at its opposite end a collar 30 fixed to said rod, thereby tendin to hold said rod at its rearmost limit 0.. movement, in position for' engagement in the hole 28. The latching rod 26 preferably is beveled at its rear end, to facilitate engagement with the hole 28. The forward end of the latching rod projects through the bracket 27 and is formed witha longitudinal slot 31 by which it is slidingly connected to an elongated eye 32 of a link 32 which extends forwardly through the forward member of the frame 10 and is pivotally connected at its forward end to one arm of a bell-crank lever 33 fulcrumed on the forward side of said forward member of the frame 10.

bell-crank lever 33 and extends laterally to the harvesting machine, where it may be secured to and for operation by a pedal lever (not shown) or other suitable operating member within reach of the drivers seat.-

Draft on the cable 34 oscillates the bellcrank lever 33, causing a forward movement of the link 32, which tends to cause a de-.

layed forward movement (because of the slot, 31) of thelatching rod 26. The link 32 travels idly until the end of the eye 32 reaches the forward end of the slot 31, after which draft is exerted on the rod 26, thereby withdrawing said rod from its seat and per- A draft cable or wire 34 is so-- cured at one end to the opposite arm of the in the gear box 16 (see Figure 3) and is formed with studs 36 on its face extending through holes in a spur gear 37 also rotatably and slid-ingly mounted on said axle shaft. A. pin 38 is mounted through the axle shaft 11 and is adapted to be engaged at times by the. projecting end portions of the studs 36, whereby the clutch member andspur gear 37 are clutched to and for rotation with said axle shaft. Bearing brackets 39, 40 are mounted on the countershafts 17, 18, within the gear box, and a short shaft 41 is journaled for rotation in said bearing brackets. A spur gear 42 is fixed to the central portion of the short shaft 41 and is in mesh with the spur gear 37, and adapted to be driven at times 'there-- by. Bevel gears 43, 44 are mounted on opposite sides of the spur gear 42 and are in mesh with and adapted to drive bevel gears 45, 46, respectively, mounted on and fixed to the respective countershafts 17, 18, whoreby said countershafts are rotated.

A bracket 47 is formed on and projects outwardly from the forward portion of the outer side member of the frame 10, and a lever 48 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on said bracket. The forward end. of the lever 48 is pivotally connected by a link 49 with the laterally extending arm of the bell-crank lever 33, said link 49 being pivoted to said bell-crank coincident with the pivoting of the link A. bracket 50 is formed on and projects inwardly from the outer side member of the frame 10, in

. front of the axle shaft 11, and a lever 51 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on said bracket. The forward end of the lever 51 is pivotally connected by a link 52 with the rear end of the lever 48, said link passing slidingly through the outer side member of the frame 10. An expansive coil spring is coiled on the inner end portion of the link 52 and impinges at its ends against the inner surface of the outer side member of the frame 10, and the end of the lever 51, and tends to hold said levers in normal positions as shown, and to return them to such positions after oscillation. The rear end of the lever 51 is formed as a yoke 54 loosely engaging in a grooved collar 55 pivotally and slidingly mounted on the axle 11. An arm 56 is fixed to and extends inwardly from the grooved collar 55 and is formed on its inner end with a yoke 57 loosely engaging in a circumferential groove 58 in the clutch member 35; the arm 56 being offset downwardly between its ends 'to pass beneath the wall of the gear box 16.

Draft on the cable 34, and oscillation of the bell-crank lever 33, will have the effect, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 1, of causing an inward movement of the forward end of the lever 48 and of the rear end of the 16V? hus Wllfiilig an inward sliding movement of the collar 55 and clutch member 35 on the axle shaft, and effecting an engagement of the studs 36 with the pin 38. The result of such engagement is a rotary movement of the gears 37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 (it being understood thatthe machine is advancing and the wheel 12 turning and rotating the axle shaft 11), and a consequent rotary movement of the counter shafts 17, 18 and of the receptacle members 19, 20, which are turned toward one another to closed position. Such movement is continued throughout only a portion of a revolution, and as soon as draft is released from the cable 34 the spring 53 acts to return the levers 48, 51 to normal positions, thereby effecting a release of the clutch devices. A spring latch 59 is fixed to the receptacle member 20 and is adapted to automatically engage a notched member 60 on the member 19 when said members are in closed position, thereby holding said members closed against the action of the spring 22. r

A bracket 61 is fixed to and extendsinwardly from the inner side member of the frame 10, and a vertical conveyor frame 62 is fixed to and supportedby said bracket. The conveyor frame 62 extends obliquely outwardly and upwardly and overlies at its upper end the bundle receptacle formed by the members 19, 20. The bracket 61 as shown is substantially U-shaped, with its open end directed upwardly. An endless conveyor 63 of any suitable form is mounted for travel in the frame 62.; A horizontal conveyor frame 64 is fixed at its rear end to the lower end of the conveyor frame 62 and extends forwardly therefrom, and an endless conveyor 65 is mounted fortravel in said frame 64. The conveyor 65 is. adapted to receive bundles of grain from the bundle carrierlof the harvesting machine, and carry them rearwardly to the upright conveyor 63. As the bundles usu ally are delivered from the bundle carrier butt end foremost, and it is necessary to place the bundles in the receptacle of the shocking attachment butt end rearmost, as will hereinafter appear, it is necessary to provide means for turning the bundles end for end before delivery to said bundlereceptacle. To this end a rod or bar 66 projects over the rear portion of the horizontal conveyor 65, and at some elevation thereabove. The

outer end of the bar or rod 66 is carried by ends) are supported by the bar or rod 66 while their forward (butt) endsv are permitted to drop to the convey0r65, and as said conveyor moves rearwardly, said butt ends are carried rearwardly beneath the head ends, and the bundles are thereby turned end forend before falling prone on the conveyor 65.

A plate 68 is fixed in inclined position to the conveyor frame 62 at the rear of the conveyor 65 and at the base of the conveyor 63, and is adapted to receive bundles from said conveyor 65 and holdthem until they are taken off by the conveyor 63. The plate 68 preferably is notched or toothed at its inner margin, to permit engagement of the bundles thereon by the carrying devices of the conveyor. 63, in order that the bundles may be engaged and removedby said conveyor, by which they are carried upwardly and dropped into the bundle receptacle of the attachment. An upright shield 69 is carried by the frame 62 at the rear endof the bed plate 68, to prevent the bundles from being dropped off the rear end of' said plate.

A driving shaft 70 is journaled for rotation in brackets 71 fixed to and projecting inwardly from the inner side member of the frame 10 and a bevel gear 72 is fixed tothe rear end of said driving shaft and meshes with and is adapted to be rotated by a bevel gear 7 3 fixed to the projecting inner end of the axle shaft 11. A sprocket gear 74 is fixed to the forward end of the driving shaft to a sprocket gear 7 6 fixed to the upper shaft 77 of the conveyor 63.

Another driving shaft 78 i arranged is connected by a sprocket chain 8] to av sprocket gear 82 mounted on. and fixed to the projecting inner end of the axle shaft 11. A spur gear 83 is mounted on and fixed to the inner end of the driving shaft 78 and 70 and is connected by a sprocketchain 75 V meshes with and is adapted to drive a spur gear 84 mounted on and carried by the driving shaft 85 of the horizontal conveyor 65. In this manner the horizontal conveyor 65 is driven rearwardly and the upright conveyor 63 is driven upwardly to carry bundles to the bundle receptacle.

Another supporting wheel, indicated by the numeral 86. is provided for the shocking attachment, and is here shown as a caster wheel swiveled in the lower portion.

of the bracket 61.

In practical use the shocking device is attached to a reaping and binding machine by means of the connecting bar 13 and draft bar 15, and bundles from the bundle carrier are deposited. on the horizontal conveyor 65,

&

are turned as above described and delivered to the bed plate 68, and are carried thence upwardly by the vertical conveyor and dropped thereby between and within the space enclosed by the receptacle members 19, 20, and upon the cover.28, the butts of said bundles being arranged to the rear. When a sufiicient number of bundles have been so delivered to the bundle receptacle, the driver applies draft to the cable 3& to the end of causing the members of the bundle receptacle to be turned toward each other as hereinbefore described, to the end of compressing and squeezing together the collocation of bundles therein. Such draft on the cable 34, also has the delayed effect of withdrawing the latching rod 26, and permitting the great box 16, bundle receptacle and bundles therein to turn rearwardly on the axle shaft 11 approximately a onefourth revolution, or until the receptacle and bundles occupy substantially an upright position at the. rear of the axle, shaft, the base of the receptacle and the butts of the bundles then being near the ground level. When the parts have been moved to this position the bundle receptacle is automatically unlatched, this operation being accomplished by means of a chain or cord 87 fixed at one end to the latch 59 and at its opposite end to the frame 10, the length of said chain or. cord being such as to apply draft on said latch when the receptacle has reached the desired position, whereby said latch is released from the notched member 60 and the spring 22 permitted to act to open or spread the members 19, 20 of the receptacle. This action frees the collocated bundles, and as the machine advances said bundles are left in upright position on the ground, in the form of a shock, to which the cap sheaf may be applied manually.

It will be understood that the rotating movement of the gear box and bundle re ceptacle is only for a brief space, that is so long as draft is continued on the cord 34, or until a quarter revolution of the memhers is accomplished, whereupon the spring 25 acts to return said members to horizontal position on and above the axle shaft, the latching rod 26 automatically re-engaging the hole 28 and holding the device in such position until again tripped by action of the operator. An arcuate guide member 88 is fixed in its central portion to the bracket 27 and curves upwardly on both sides of the normal position of the members of the bundle receptacle. and serves to limit outward movement of said members under the influence of the spring 22. Arms 89, preferably are fixed to and extend rea-rwardly and flare somewhat outwardly, from the upper ends of the curved guide 88, and serve to direct and limit movement of the receptacle members.

It is desirable to provide means to pre vent dropping of bundles from the carrier 63 during such time as the bundle receptacle is in rearmost or delivery positlon. A crosshead 90 is mounted beneath the upper portion of the conveyor frame'62 and is adapted for vertical movement in side bearings 91 formed on and projecting downwardly from the side members of said frame. Spaced teeth 92 are fixed to and project upwardly from the cross-head 90, parallel with and beneath the frame 62, and when said cross-head is at its lowermost limit of movement, said teeth do not project above the upper end of said frame, materially. The teeth 92 may project slidingly through a bearing member 92 mounted transversely of the upper end of the conveyor frame 62. A spring 93 is fixed to the cross-head 90 and to the frame 62, and yieldingly holds said cross-head in lowermost position. A

draft cord 94 is fixed to the cross-head, passes upwardly and over a direction pulley 95, thence downwardly beneath the conveyor frame to another pulley 96.; and thence laterally to the vicinity of the drivers seat on the harvester, where it may be operated in any desired manner. Draft on the cord 9a has the efi'ect of raising the cross-head 90 against the resistance of the spring 93, thereby causing an upward movement of the teeth 92, which then project materially above the upper or discharge end of the conveyor 63 and temporarily hold bundles against discharge from said conveyor. As soon as the bundle receptacle returns to re ceiving position the cross-head and teeth 92 are permitted to be returned to inoperative position by action of the spring 93.

I claim as my invention 1. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, an axle shaft,a supporting wheel thereon, spaced countershafts extending transversely of said axle shaft, a receptacle formed of two members toa'ether adapted to receive bundles of grain, each of said receptacle members being fixed to and for oscillation with one of saidcountershafts, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, releasable means for holding said receptacle in horizontal position, clutchcontrolled gearing between said axle shaft and the countershafts for closing the receptacle members, means for releasing the holding means and permitting the receptacle to assume a vertical position, and means for re turning said receptacle to horizontal position.

2. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a. frame, an axle shaft, a supporting wheel thereon. a pair of spaced countershafts, a receptacle formed of two members adapted to receive bundles of grain, each of said receptacle members being fixed to and for oscillation with one of said countershafts, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, releasable means for holding said receptacle in horizontal position, gearing between said axle shaft and the countershafts for closing the receptacle members, means for automatically latching the members of the receptacle together when closed, means for releasing the holding means and permitting the receptacle to assume a vertical position, draft means attached to the latching means for automatically unlatching the members of the receptacle when moved a predetermined distance to vertical position, and means for returning the receptacle to horizontal position.

3. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, an axle journaled for rotation therein, a supporting wheel on and fixed to said axle, a receptacle formed of two members hinged together and adapted to receive bundles of grain, said receptacle being pivoted between its ends on said axle, means for holding said receptacle in horizontal position, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, clutch-controlled gearing between said axle and receptacle for closing the latter, and means for dumping said receptacle.

4:. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, an axle journaled for rotation therein, a supporting wheel on and fixed to said axle, a receptacle formed of two members hinged together and adapted to receive bundles. of grain, said receptacle being pivoted on said axle, means for holding said receptacle in horizontal position, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, clutch-controlled gearing between said axle and receptacle for closing the latter, and common operating means for throwing said clutch-controlled gearing into engage ment and thereafter releasing the holding,

means and permitting said receptacle to assume vertical position for dumping said bundles. I

5. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, an axle journaled for rotation therein, a supporting wheel on and fixed to said axle, a receptacle formed of two members hinged together and adapted to receive bundles of grain, said receptacle being pivoted on said axle, means for holding said receptacle in horizontal position, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, clutch-controlled gearing between said axle and the members of the receptacle for closing the latter, yielding means normally holding said clutch devices in inoperative position, and common operating means for engaging said clutch devices and subsequently releasing the holding device and permitting said receptacle to assume vertical position and deposit the bundles. Y

6. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, an axle journaled for rotation therein, a supporting wheel on and fixed to said axle, a receptacle formed of.

ing said receptacle in horizontal position, yielding means for holding said receptacle in open position, clutch-controlled gearing between said axle and the members of the receptacle for closing the latter, yielding means normally holding the clutch devices in inoperative position, means for automatically latching the receptacle members together when closed, common operating means for engaging said clutch devices and subsequently releasing the holding means and permitting said receptacle to assume vertical position to deposit bundles of grain, means for unlatching the receptacle members when in vertical position, and means for returning the receptacle to horizontal position.

7. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame, a receptacle pivoted thereon, said receptacle being formed of two members normally held in open position, a conveyor adapted to receive bundles from a harvester and deliver them to said receptacle, means for oscillating the members of the receptacle to closed position, means for oscillating the receptacle to dumping position, and means to prevent delivery of bundles from said conveyor while the receptacle is in dumping position, the last-named means including a toothed member slidably mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved to such position that its teeth project beyond the delivery end thereof,

8. A grain-shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a U-shaped frame adapts ed to be attached at one side to a harvester frame, a supporting wheel for the opposite side of said frame, an axle shaft journaled in said U-shaped frame and secured to said supporting wheel, a gear box pivoted on said axle shaft, contershafts journaled in said gear box transversely of said axle shaft, re-

ceptacle members fixed to said countershafts and for oscillation therewith, clutch-controlled gearing in said gear box for operatively connecting said countershafts to said axle shaft, and means for manually actuating said clutch controlling means.

9. A shocking attachment for harvesters, comprising a frame adapted to be attached at one side to a harvester, a supporting wheel for the opposite side of said frame, an axle shaft secured to said supporting wheel and journaled in said frame, a gear box pivoted to said axle shaft, a pair of countershafts journaled in said gear box transversely ofv said axle shaft, receptacle members fixed to the respective countershafts and for oscillation therewith, clutch-controlled gearing in said gear box for operatively connecting said countershafts to said axlesha-ft, a sliding latch for normally holding said gear box against oscillation on said axle shaft, a lever fulcrurned on said frame, pivotal connections extending from said lever for actuating said clutch controlling means, and sliding pivotal connections between said lever and said sliding latch for releasing the latter after the oscillation of said countershafts and receptacle niembersl Signed at Madison, in the county of Lake and State of South Dakota, this 18th day of May, 1919.

. DANIEL W. GILE. 

